The Senate and the House of Representatives will, on Wednesday, May 29, hold a joint sitting to mark 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria.
The sitting, the first of its kind since the return to democracy in 1999, will feature paper presentations by eminent Nigerians, including former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd).
The two legislative chambers only sit together during annual budget presentations by the President.
A statement issued on Monday night by the National Assembly management said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver an address at the joint sitting.
The President is also expected to inaugurate the new National Assembly Library as part of the events slated for the 25th-year celebration.
Also expected at the event is the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, among other prominent citizens.
Other dignitaries expected at the event are the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“Others are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal, the Senior Special Assistants to the President for both the Senate and the House, among others.
“There will be commemorative lectures on 25 years of the National Assembly: Lessons and Opportunities at the joint sitting,” the statement read in part.
While Gbajabiamila, who served as the Speaker of the 9th House (2019-2023), will deliver a paper on ‘Reflections on the House’, Senator David Mark, the President of the 6th and 7th Senate (2007-2015), will speak on ‘Reflections on the Senate.’
